This is a BLOG from Mark Cochrane of Business Strategies Group in Hong Kong. We've been keeping a close watch on B2B media and business information in Asia since 2000 and look forward to sharing insights with you.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

News this week: Last week, CyberMedia, an Indian specialty publisher, announced results for the quarter ended 30th June 2011. CyberMedia’s revenues were US$4.1 million, a decrease of 15% compared with the same quarter last year. The company recorded a net profit of US$39,000 million in the quarter compared to a net loss of US$160,000 last year. Dilute earnings per share in the period were Rs. 0.17.

CyberMedia’s media business generated US$2.5 million or 60% of total revenues in the first quarter. That is an increase of 21% over the same quarter last year. The company’s media services business saw revenues drop 42% to US$1.7 million in the period.

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service.You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

News this week: The government of India will launch an online platform in November this year in order to provide information about Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the central aim of attracting foreign business partners. The National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), which operates under the MSME Ministry, will be responsible for the development of the website. According to media reports, the new service will be an “extensive portal similar to Alibaba.com.”

The Indian government is expecting this new service to help expose Indian MSMEs to more than 25,000 potential international customers. Apart from listing information about the companies and their products, for an annual fee of US$109, NISC will also offer services such as alerts and updates regarding global tenders.

In India, there are roughly 26 million MSMEs employing close to 60 million people, which are responsible for approximately 45% of the country’s manufacturing activity.

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service.You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

News this week: The 22ndHong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Food Expo 2011, which ran from 11th to 15th August, has posted a record number of visitors this year, with 380,000 visiting the show – a 3% increase over the previous edition in 2010. The Food Expo 2011 featured a Gourmet Zone for the first time. The zone showcased premium food and processing products from around the world, including products form Belgium, France, Spain, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Benjamin Chau, deputy executive director of the HKTDC was quoted saying, “This year, given rising inflation, the special discounts offered by exhibitors helped attract visitors. In addition, the concurrently held Hong Kong International Tea Fair and the ICMCM, organised by the HKTDC and the Modernised Chinese Medicine International Association, also helped attract buyers and visitors.”

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service.You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.